Bergen Community College

Bergen Community College alumnus Fasih Ur Rehman Abbasi, ‘26, earned his associate’s degree in natural sciences.

Abbasi, of Teaneck, discovered Bergen during a challenging time in his life. After travelling from his home country of Pakistan to the United States, Abbasi learned that his father lost his job.

“That situation forced me to make a very difficult decision whether to return back or stay and continue my education,” said Abbasi. “During that time, a friend introduced me to Bergen and told me about its accessibility and affordable tuition.”

A time of tragic news had swiftly turned into new beginnings for Abbasi. Once he entered Bergen’s doors, Abbasi quickly found support from the College’s International Student Center (ISC), which supports international students with their college journeys by assisting students find campus resources.

“Moving to a new country comes with many challenges, especially when you are away from your family,” he said. “The Center helped me understand important processes, guided me whenever I had questions and made sure I felt comfortable on campus. Their support made it easier for me to adjust and focus on my academics and involvement.”

With the ISC’s guidance, Abbasi took on leadership roles within the College. He became a Turning Point Program mentor and Disability Alliance Fellow. Abbasi supported individuals with mental and physical disabilities in both roles. He strived to create an inclusive environment and became more involved in advocacy and understanding different student needs. Through his work, Abbasi received a “Best Mentor of the Semester” award in the spring 2026 semester.

Abbasi also became heavily involved with Alpha Phi Epsilon – Bergen’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society for two-year colleges. He quickly became the chapter’s director of scholarships, where he helped students find and apply for scholarships.

Within the sphere of his academics, Abbasi served as a research volunteer in the Anthropomorphic Robotic Arm project, where he contributed to technical development at Bergen’s STEM Research Center.

“When I came here, Bergen became much more than just a college for me,” said Abbasi. “It became my second home.”

Abbasi happily spent 12-13 hours a day on campus between his classes and campus involvements. “The environment here gave me stability and direction when I needed it the most, and all of my achievements started from here,” he said.

Abbasi graduated from Bergen in 2026, and plans to create his own electrical engineering company.

Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 24,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.

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